Deeply divided societies have long been seen as terrible terrain for democracy. Yet some countries across Asia (India, Indonesia) have managed to establish more durable democracies than other similar countries (Pakistan, Malaysia). Why? In my new book project, I argue that a country’s founding national narrative, if inclusive, can be an important resource for overcoming social divisions and stabilising democracy.

During periods of potential democratization, citizens are often exposed to unexpected episodes of protest and acts of repression. How do individual citizens make decisions during these periods of potential change? When citizens are exposed to acts of repression, does it deter them from expressing dissent, or cause them to redouble their efforts? When they are exposed to others' acts of protest, do they become more or less likely to participate themselves? We use a unique panel dataset of Zimbabwean citizens in the months around the pivotal 2018 election to study these questions.

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